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Question

why are my tiger barbs turn black and have a greenish tone to them in bright light

Submitted: 74 days and 22 hours ago.

Category: Pet

Value: $15

Status: CLOSED

Posted by Roger L. Welton, DVM 74 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

The color changes that you are describing in Tiger Barbs is not unusual, due to the influence of interbreeding with a particular kind of tiger barb that have a generally higher proportion of melanin (pigmentation) in the scales, the Green Tiger Barb. This variation of Tiger Barb is called as such due to their tendency to reflct a gree hue in certain frequencies of light, due to a scatering of light by the scales known as the Tyndell effect.

These types of Tiger Barbs are also known to develop black pigmentation on their main bodies, leading me to believe that what you are seeing are normal genetic variations. What you have is either full out Green Tiger Barbs, or Tiger Barbs that were genetically influenced through cross breeding with Green Tiger Barbs somewhere in their line.

At any rate, there likely is little to worry about.

74 days ago.

Reply

Does, this turning of black also work in reverse, because some of the black is fading on my other tiger barbs

Accepted Answer

It absolutely does work in reverse, if they are part albino Tiger Barb, they will often lose pigmentation with age. With so many millins of these fish imported each year, it is not typical to see pure looking examples of the different kinds of fish. The important thing is that these are just normal color variations and not indicative of poor health.

Accepts:
Expert:	Roger L. Welton, DVM
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	9/10/2009

Veterinarian

Licensed Veterinarian, Practice Owner, And Book Author ("Canine and Feline 101")

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